Prof William Chavez Conference: SE Europe Geoscience Foundation in co-operation with the Society of Economic Geologists

SEEGF is holding a two day conference with the SEG International Exchange Lecturer, Professor William X Chavez in Sofia, Bulgaria, May 16 and 17. Chavez has an international research reputation and is a very engaging lecturer. He is currently Professor of Geological Engineering at the New Mexico School of Mines in Socorro, New Mexico, where he has taught since 1985.

Chavez received BSc degrees in geology (1976) and mining engineering (1977) from the New Mexico School of Mines. Upon graduation, he worked with Harry M. Parker and the geostatistics group at Fluor Utah in San Mateo, California. He attended the University of California at Berkeley, receiving MA (1980) and PhD degrees in geology (1984); his dissertation dealt with Cu-Ag mineralisation associated with felsic volcanic rocks in the Mantos Blancos District of northern Chile. Chavez has worked in northern Chile and adjacent regions in western South America for the past 27 years, with emphasis on supergene processes and weathering-related metals transport and accumulation, and on alteration-mineralization zoning characterizing porphyry- and epithermal-style hydrothermal systems.

Prof Chavez Lectures

Minerals exploration and supply: A worldwide perspective: This presentation discusses mineral resources and sources, noting how social, environmental, and political forces influence from whom and where metals and non-metals are sourced. Topic appropriate for a general undergraduate through professional audience, with many slides showing geologic settings of various metal commodities worldwide, and “new” exploration areas.

Environmental geochemistry: The understanding of supergene processes applied to the remediation of mine environments: This lecture discusses metals and rock-forming minerals destruction and transport in a mine environment, with emphasis on how one uses such information to assess and remediate mine sites, including base metals, uranium, and precious metal mines.

Weathering-related metals mobility: Geochemical controls on the intensity and maturity of development of supergene enrichment profiles: This talk involves the geochemistry of low-T metal transport, with reference to metals accumulation and preservation; many examples from well-developed supergene profiles are provided to show students and professionals how well-developed profiles form…or are not formed.